Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards
Background
Northern Sydney Cancer Centre represents part of the Cancer Care Services provided by Royal North Shore Hospital Campus in combination with the University of Sydney's Northern Clinical School. Northern Sydney Cancer Centre is a leading provider of a range of support services and treatment options for patients. The department was established in 1960, and remains at the forefront in patient services and technological advancements.
Location
Royal North Shore Hospital is located 7.5km from the Sydney CBD. On site patient parking is available, trains & buses are easily accessible from St Leonards Station. Convenient off site accommodation and shuttle service from Blue Gum Lodge is provided for country patients.
Equipment
The Northern Sydney Cancer Centre has a range of the latest technology and equipment. The Department has 3 Linear Accelerators, all with the latest On-Board-Imaging and Cone Beam CT scanning capabilities; two of these are Trilogy linacs that have a high dose rate stereotactic beamline, RapidArc™ and RPM systems for gating and one of the linear accelerators has an Optical Guidance Platform for frameless stereotactic. The Department also has a CT scanner with rapid contrast injector for simulation, a brachytherapy machine and a superficial/deep X-ray machine. We offer HDR/LDR prostate, surface moulds and 3D cervix brachytherapy for cancer patients. We have the ARIA patient management system with Eclipse and iPlan treatment planning software.
Radiation Oncology provides approximately 1200 courses of treatment per year to cancer patients. Around one third of these treatments are complex IMRT type cases. Our clinical services are always expanding and we have started Stereotactic body, RapidArc™ and RPM assisted treatments.
The Northern Sydney Cancer Centre will be moving into the new Royal North Shore Acute Services Building in December 2012.
Continuing Professional Development, Education and Research
Northern Sydney Cancer Centre supports and values continuing professional development. Staff meet regularly to discuss advancements in patient care and technology. Interdepartmental speciality groups focus on updating protocols and procedures, new technique development, and quality assurance for specific treatment sites or techniques. Staff are provided training and in-service programs for skill development and career-related education. The department supports the radiation therapy student clinical placement program.
Since January 2010, the Centre has been accredited by Varian Medical Systems as a Clinical School; the first in Australia. The School offers training in advanced techniques to radiation oncologists, radiation therapists and medical physicists from other Centres throughout Australasia.
The department participates in a number of clinical trials and actively encourages and supports research initiatives. The staff are actively encouraged to participate in research and development, present their work at conferences and publish in the journals. A research and data management unit supports the coordination of patient data for a range of national and internal clinical trials.
Clinics and Speciality Groups
The Northern Sydney Cancer Centre is an established Cancer Care Centre offering a range of multidisciplinary clinics and speciality groups.
Multidisciplinary clinics & meetings include:
• Head & Neck
• Breast
• Gynae-Oncology
• Neuro-Oncology
• Colo-Rectal
• Haematology
• Prostate Meeting
A range of health professionals discuss each case at these clinics to ensure patients receive quality treatment and best practice methods.
Staff
We offer a team of skilled, dedicated health professionals that collaboratively design and deliver optimum treatment programs for each individual patient. Our goal is to ensure that each patient receives the best possible care during the patient's course of treatment.
Our diverse team of health professionals and support staff includes:
• Radiation oncologists
• Radiation therapists
• Medical physicists
• Nurses
• Social workers and dieticians
• IT, electronics and technical staff
• Reception, secretarial and data management staff
Hours
Patient treatment is usually scheduled from 7.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday with planning and consultations occurring within these hours. An after hours and weekend on-call service is provided in the case of an emergency.
Further Information
Radiation Oncology Department
Northern Sydney Cancer Centre
Royal North Shore Hospital
Pacific Highway
ST LEONARDS NSW 2065
Dr Michael Back
Director, Radiation Oncology
Ph: +61 2 9926 5010
Email: MBack@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Head, Radiation Therapy
Ph: +61 2 9926 5037
Email: mrinks@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Dr Jeremy Booth
Acting Chief Medical Physicist
Ph: +61 2 9926 5060
Email: jbooth@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Ms Diana Van der Saag
Nursing Unit Manager
Ph: +61 2 9926 5-38
Email: dvanders@nsccahs.health.nsw.gov.au